Stay Tuned: ‘Big Fan’ gives fans the spotlight

Tuesday

Dec 27, 2016 at 12:01 PM

Melissa CrawleyMore Content Now

It’s easy to dismiss ABC’s new gameshow “Big Fan,” where three super fans face off in front of the celebrity they most admire, as a cynical public relations exercise that elevates the celebrity while portraying the fans as people who, to quote William Shatner’s reference to “Star Trek” fans, should “get a life.” Yet, the show taps into an important element of fandom that deserves some recognition.The contestants on “Big Fan” may seem somewhat over the top but their intimate knowledge represents one simple taken for granted truth: The success of a media product or in this case, a celebrity brand, depends upon their participation and emotional investment. Hosted by Andy Richter, the show features three mega fans who compete in two question and answer rounds. The last fan standing then goes head to head in a final round with a celebrity. The fan and the celebrity compete to see who can answer the most questions correctly about the celebrity. If the fan wins, they are rewarded with memorabilia. Does the super fan know more about the celebrity than he or she knows about him or herself? It’s a silly premise but one that is handled with a sense of fun. In the episode featuring Matthew McConaughey, the actor is gracious and humble, which is consistent with his public persona. He has cultivated an everyman image and his appearance on the show is no exception to that. Known for his sometimes abstract quotes about life, the second question and answer segment features him reading quotes and the fans guessing if they were his words or someone else’s. Even viewers with just a little knowledge of McConaughey can easily guess most answers, which suggests how successful his brand has become. The appeal is obvious for viewers who are McConaughey fans but for those whose feelings toward him are neutral, it is still fairly entertaining. But that is mostly because he comes across as a nice guy who doesn’t take himself too seriously and is grateful for his fans, which could again be seen as an exercise in good PR. So it’s easy to understand why a celebrity might want to take part in this show (McConaughey also plugs his charity at the end of the episode) and of course, the super fans’ participation is a dream come true and a validation of the time and energy they have committed to supporting their favorite celebrity. But what’s in it for the viewer? If you are a fan yourself, it’s a fun show. Or if you’re just curious about the latest addition to the ‘celebrity versus real people’ game show format, it has the same appeal as the others in the genre, which is watching celebrities in spontaneous moments, outside their roles as scripted performers. “Big Fan” is a public relations vehicle to be sure but looking past that, it’s also an opportunity to see fans outside the marginalized status they are often assigned. “Big Fan” premieres January 9 on ABC.

— Melissa Crawley is the author of “Mr. Sorkin Goes to Washington: Shaping the President on Television’s ‘The West Wing.’” She has a Ph.D. in media studies and is a member of the Television Critics Association. To comment on Stay Tuned, email her at staytuned@outlook.com or follow her on Twitter at @MelissaCrawley.

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